Hi jet--

I'd leave them how you have them. Though these are bulbs, it isn't necessary to have the bulbs in the soil. So long as their basal plate (where the roots come out) and the roots themselves are in the soil, that is enough.

Something to consider is your soil-- be sure it is loose, even airy and can absorb water quickly but it is not to be left soaked as the roots need the air, too.

Keep an eye on these guys since they are above a heater. Heat actually can promote new root growth (the mere thawing of our the top inch of our ground in Spring is enough to spark root growth in my bonsai-- the roots themselves are not frozen). However, if you keep them there too long or they get too hot, they will suffer heat damage. I've had this happen before in the Colorado sun, a pot exposed to the sun during the afternoon turned one of my bulbs to a rootless one!

Finally, where are you? Your name is jet_ny-- so I'm guessing New York but your zone of 7 would make me think otherwise.

Good luck.

Ryan

Jet,the bulblets are perfectly planted. Put the container in full sun.Let the upper half inch soil dry out before watering.

The bulbs appear to be planted just fine... for future reference, there is no need to tamp the soil down when potting bulbs... just a light tapping on the pot sides to settle the soil, is all I do. I want to retain as much aeration as I can. Once I water them in, everything settles into place.

Be prepared to lose some of the leaves they came with... this is normal. They've been up-rooted from their original home and gone through shipment... this is a little stressful, and they might respond by dropping leaves and appearing to rest for a while. What they'll be doing is growing a root structure in their new home. They'll put most of their energy into doing this.

Personally, I would not feed them for a while... allow them some time to get accustomed to their surroundings... new light, new soil and pot, etc... plus, whatever soil you're using should have enough nutrition to hold them for a little while.

When you do get ready to feed them, it's best to have a lower strength, constant flow of feed, than a higher dose at longer intervals. I feed a diluted liquid all-purpose fertilizer every time, or every other time I water.

It's important that bulbs not sit in constant moisture, though since these are young, they will not want to be allowed to dry out in between waterings like their adult counterparts.

Good luck with your new youngsters! And if you should have any other questions, we're always glad to help! :-)

thank you so much for all your assists. I'm more confident now that i know i can always come here for guidance. I feel like a new momma now. I will be receiving seeds and bulbs soon...seems like I am getting a whole new family in all ages ain't it? well, the more the merrier.

Absolutely! You've got a fine addiction beginning! :-)

Most of came here, at one time or another, seeking a bit of advice... and we stayed. We grew to love these bulbs, no pun intended, and most of us now have sizable collections! Hippeastrums are very resilient bulbs, and as long as you don't over water or allow them to freeze, they'll reward you every year with big beautiful blooms!

There's a lot of information and culture tips buried within past threads... if you don't mind doing a bit of reading, you'll learn quite a bit about these great plants!

Good luck with your new bulb family... and welcome to the forum! Hope you stick around! :-)